Grotto Falls Trail


Grotto Falls is a popular and attractive site a mile and a half up from the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. The walk is easy, the way broad and the falls peaceful and refreshing. Though often crowded, Grotto Falls is an excellent stop over en route to Mount LeConte. Large boulders and fallen trees offer plenty of seating. The falls itself is fifteen, maybe twenty feet high, usually having a good amount of water coming over. The trail takes you right behind the falls! This is an exciting initiation into the 'wilderness experience' for many. Wet rocks are extremely slippery, do be very careful. The scenery here is hardwood bottomland, somewhat rocky and rooty, but quite negotiable for even the out of shape hiker. Trees are often fair to large in size, especially the hemlocks. The trail may become a bit muddy in rainy weather, but even if not, you can expect to carry home a little dirt from the rocks and trees.

Beyond the falls, the trail becomes notably steeper as you wind your way up two more miles to Trillium Gap amid the folded shoulders of Mount LeConte. The scenery changes slightly here as the trees are sparser and substantially younger. In season (around late April), wildflowers here are unusually profuse and lovely. Occasional panoramic glimpses through the trees will also entice you on. Aside from the flowers, Trillium Gap is hardly a scenic wonder, just a wooded saddle between Mount LeConte and Brushy Mountain, more of a crossroads than a destination: Porter's Flat is to the east, Brushy Mountain to the north, LeConte to the south and Grotto Falls to the west. I insist that any trip past Trillium Gap be accompanied by a one mile jaunt (round trip) up Brushy Mountain. The signs at the gap point the way north on a rocky trail through blueberry, heath and rhododendron bramble. This view is one the best on this side of the Smokies, especially if LeConte is clouded over. (At only 4900 feet, it is far less often afflicted by fog.)

The flora changes little for about a mile past the gap. However, swags and northern slopes are notably more coniferous. Beyond this, the trees thin out further, and the upper elevations offer the familiar Frazer Fir and heath scrub terrain (see Mount LeConte). It is about three and a half miles from the Gap to the lodge atop LeConte. At a mile or so past the gap, you will look up and behold the looming silhouette of LeConte, 1000 feet above you and 2000 feet dead ahead. Ah, if only you could fly! The last mile and a half of this trail are, for me, quite long. Not too scenic except when flowering sometime in late May. Press onward! Eventually you will see the wooded apex of High Top just ahead of you. Only a quarter mile to go! For the description of LeConte, follow the link above!

Oh yes, around mid afternoon, you may meet the llama pack (yes, the llama pack) on their way down from LeConte lodge. They faithfully supply it with goods Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You will like them, need I say more?

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